Volunteers have been the foundation of our work since the very beginning. Most of our volunteers are based at the Townsville University Hospital and provide an invaluable service to patients and visitors.
They drive the buggies, helping patients who need the buggies to travel across the hospital. They provide a warm welcome on arrival, providing information and directions to help visitors get around. Other volunteers help in wards, and other locations, and from time to time, at events.
Volunteers aged less than 18 years or who are school students can apply for our school holiday program. If you are aged 18 years or older you can apply for all other roles.
Download the form to express your interest in volunteering.
School holiday program
Please note: places in our school holiday program are limited, apply early to avoid disappointment.
Brighter Lives volunteers are non-medical and do not participate in any clinical procedures. Their role is to help brighten the lives of patients, visitors and staff.
Event volunteers
We are currently seeking event volunteers to help with several events in 2024. Please download the form to express your interest.
- Book Fair 17-18 August 2024
- Other events TBC
Volunteer with Brighter Lives
Volunteering opportunities
Buggy Driver
A courtesy buggy service is available for patients, visitors and staff at the Townsville University Hospital. The volunteers happily assist people to and from the car park or accommodation houses on the hospital campus.
Cancer Centre
Cancer Centre volunteers keep the refreshments flowing, offer companionship to those in need and act as a friendly face to patients and their families during what can be an emotionally challenging and often physically draining time.
Children’s Ward
Children’s Ward volunteers help in many ways from providing different activities for sick children such as crafts through to supervising patients for short periods to give Mum/Dad a break. If you love kids this is the role for you!
Convenience Trolley
The trolley volunteers provide a small mobile shopping service to the inpatients so they can enjoy some treats and comforts from their hospital beds. Snacks, basic essentials, magazines and newspapers are for sale.
Elder Care
Volunteers in these wards encourage interaction with patients through activities and conversation. Simply reading a book or doing a patient’s nails can make a huge impact on the lives of these patients.
Events
During the year, the Foundation hosts several events to raise much needed funds to support the Townsville Hospital and Health Service. Event volunteers assist in setting up, helping during the event (manning stalls, selling tickets, acting as Bandi Bear etc) and packing down while having great fun doing it.
Gift shop
Our gift shop sells a variety of gifts, refreshments, toiletries, newspapers and magazines for the convenience of patients and visitors. Volunteers in this area are required to have money handling abilities and to keep the gift shop neat and tidy.
Information desks
From the moment patients and visitors arrive at Townsville University Hospital our trusty volunteers are on hand with a friendly smile to give directions and assist people to get to where they need to go.
Intensive Care Unit
ICU volunteers provide comfort and support to patients and carers. Volunteers will provide comfort and support to patients and family members through conversation and offering a listening ear, as well as a friendly face.
Oncology Ward
The Oncology Ward volunteers provide comfort and support to patients and carers who are undergoing an emotionally challenging and often physically draining experience by offering a listening ear and a friendly face.
Women's & Children's Clinic
These clinics service a range of paediatric and women's needs. The volunteers assist by keeping waiting rooms neat and tidy and helping to make information packs for patients.
Bandi Bear
Bandi Bear likes to do activities such as visiting the children’s ward, appearing in photographs, or getting out and about in the community. We’re looking for a few people who can support these opportunities.
